FIVE students are preparing for the trip of a lifetime to NASA in America for an astronaut training experience.
The physically disabled young people, some with life-limiting conditions, will go to Florida as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Gold award.
They are the first group from Poole’s Victoria Education Centre to take on the demands of the Gold award and now they have launched a £20,000 fund raising appeal to realise their dream.
As well as taking part in the astronaut training experience, the young people will visit Kennedy Space Centre and Cape Canaveral, meet astronauts, NASA leaders and rocket scientists and get the chance to view the night sky through the observatory giant telescope.
Alison Dougal, a Physical Activities Assistant at Victoria, said: “We have helped individual students access Duke of Edinburgh since 1998 as we strongly believe that they should experience the scheme in the same way any non-disabled young person does.
“Over time we have established ways for our students to access Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh Awards, however we have never attempted the Gold Award before.”
Ebony Robinson, Robert Ewins, Connor Ferris, Esther Bromley and Tom Truong will be hosted by the International Space Educational Trust.
“Myself, the students and their families have all been searching for some time for something accessible and fulfilling” added Alison. “Just because of their severe disabilities, this should not affect the opportunities that should be open to them throughout their short lives.”
During their visit to NASA Ebony, Robert, Connor, Esther and Tom will go through an astronaut training experience, visit Kennedy Space Centre & Cape Canaveral, meet Astronauts, NASA Leaders & Rocket Scientists and have a chance to view the night sky through the Observatory giant telescope.
The trip is due to take place in July if financial and logistical challenges can be overcome. Students, friends and families will hold fundraising and sponsored events over the next six months to help fund the trip.
“We will work extremely hard to achieve this” said Alison. Members of the public can donate at justgiving.com/crowdfunding/5-GO-4-GOLD
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